Synergy of Education and Business: The Future is Being Prepared Today

On April 30, an Expert Dialogue "New Opportunities for Business in the Context of Educational Reform" took place. This event became a platform for discussing how to turn labor market challenges into successful partnership projects between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the real sector of the economy.

The event was organized by Smart People Business School with the support of Rivne Regional State Administration together with UNDP in Ukraine and financed by the Government of Sweden (Sida).

Representatives from the government, leading educators, and HR experts joined the discussion:

• Mykhailo Vynnytskyi — Head of the Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences at NaUKMA, former Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.
• Oleksandr Kokhan — Deputy Head of the Rivne Regional State Administration.
• Olha Kantselska — Community Development Specialist.
• Business representatives: Oksana Drahanchuk ("Avtograd Rivne") and the HR team of LLC "Verallia Ukraine."
• HEI representatives: Vice Rectors Andrii Podlevskyi (NUWGP) and Dmytro Shevchuk (NAU "Ostroh Academy").

One of the key issues raised by the participants is the gap between student expectations and reality in the workplace. Often, graduates possess a good knowledge base but do not understand how to apply it in practice. As Oksana Drahanchuk ("Avtograd") noted, businesses today are forced to effectively "re-educate" young specialists, as they are not ready for independent work immediately after graduation. This leads to a sharp shortage of personnel and a waste of valuable time on adaptation.

How to build an effective bridge between the audience and the office? Speakers shared successful cooperation strategies: Case of LLC "Verallia Ukraine": Full immersion. The company's experience shows that working with students must start long before graduation: Early contact: organizing career days, excursions, and participation in Smart Challenge helps form loyalty among future specialists. Practical integration: combining summer internships with dual education, where the employer is a full partner in the education process.

Case of "Avtograd": Systematic adaptation. The company has focused on deep interaction with educational institutions: Curriculum adjustment: businesses participate directly in shaping educational plans to meet real technical demands. Faculty internships: instructors have the opportunity to see modern processes from the inside, so they can pass this experience on to students. Mentoring: having mentors on both sides ensures regularity and quality of training.

Interaction today is a two-way street. Universities (including NUWGP and NAU "Ostroh Academy") are interested in creating internship bases, involving expert practitioners in teaching, and jointly developing innovative programs. The key statement from the vice rectors was unequivocal: HEIs are ready to prepare specialists based on specific business requests. On the other hand, businesses expect flexibility and quality from education. For companies, it is important not only to obtain qualified personnel but also to have a platform for promoting their brand among active youth.

In summarizing the meeting, experts emphasized the importance of a systematic approach. For the partnership to yield results, it is necessary to: assign responsible individuals: specific specialists from business and higher education institutions should stand behind each area of cooperation, transition from events to a system: guest lectures and practices should be regular, not one-time events.

Such an individualized approach and close collaboration will allow transforming a graduate into a professional, and business into a sustainable foundation for the development of our country.